'Happy to Be Omitted, Survey Done by Jobless People': Chennithala Slams NDTV Pre-Poll Survey

Thiruvananthapuram: Ramesh Chennithala has rejected the NDTV Vote Vibe pre-poll survey. When reporters asked about his absence from the survey, he said he was "extremely happy' that his name was not included. He added that such surveys are often conducted by people lacking proper responsibility and, at times, deliberately designed to promote certain individuals.

Chennithala appeared to take a subtle dig at VD Satheeshan, the opposition leader in Kerala, noting that Satheeshan was listed as the most preferred Congress candidate in the survey. He clarified that the Congress party has its own internal processes and has not conducted any such survey. According to Chennithala, the NDTV survey seemed aimed at serving the interests of specific individuals.

Media reports had indicated that VD Satheeshan is seen as having the highest chance of becoming Congress’s face in the upcoming election, followed by Shashi Tharoor. Chennithala’s strong response underscored his view that the pre-poll survey was manipulated and fabricated to favour a particular individual by certain sources.

Critics have also highlighted glaring issues in the NDTV survey charts. In one instance, a lower percentage is depicted with a taller bar, defying basic chart logic. In another chart showing Malayalis’ party preferences, the total percentages add up to only around 92 percent. The survey has been widely mocked for these discrepancies and poorly constructed visuals. Some have even questioned whether NDTV is producing misleading news merely for attention, similar to allegations surrounding its Wayanad rehabilitation coverage.